Coffin-fastener



(No Model.)

J. E. EVERISS. GOFFIN FASTENER.

No. 448,946. Patented Mar. 24, 1891.

ATTEST 46 m Jldw:

an: 00., mm'u'umo. wnsnma o c UNITE STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH E. EVERISS, OF ADRIAN, MICHIGAN.

COFFlN-FASTENER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent no. 448,946, dated March24, 1891.

Application filed June 6, 1889- Serial No. 313,305. (No model.)

T0 at whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOSEPH E. EVERISS, a citizen of the United States,residing atAd rian, in the county of Lenawee and State of Michigan, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Coffin-Fastenings; and Ido hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in fastening devices for coffins orcaskets; and it consists in certain novelty in the construction,arrangement, and combination of the various parts, all of which I willnow proceed to point out and describe, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective of part of oneof the sides of a coffin and part of the lid provided with my fastening,the lid being shown detached from the side. Fig. 2 is a longitudinalsection taken through the center of part of the side and fastening,showing the lid in position and locked. Fig. 3 is a perspective of theunder side of the fastening detached from the coffin, and Fig. 4 is atransverse section showing the lid in position and locked.

Referring to said drawings, A represents a portion of one of the sidesof a coffin or casket, the direction of the arrow indicating the head. ais a recess formed in the upper edge of said side. B is a metal platesecured in said recess by suitable screws or pins 1), and so arrangedthat its upper face is flush with the surface of the upper edge of theside.

0 is a longitudinal slot in the face of the plate B, terminating in anenlarged aperture 0, having an inclined bottom C Said slot is enlargedbelow the face of the plate, forming flanges c c on each side of thesame. Said flanges have inclined under surfaces 0 0', extending from theenlarged aperture down to the opposite end of the slot.

D is a transverse recess formed in the under side of the forward end ofthe plate, one of the screws 1) passing through the center of the saidrecess D.

E is a locking key or pin mounted in a hole e in the side of the plateand communicating with the slot 0. Said key or pin is adapted to passtransversely through said slot and engage with a similar hole 6' on theopposite side of the plate to lock the lid in position, as hereinafterdescribed. The key extends beyond the outer side of the coffin and isbent to form a shoulder or stop E and a handle portion E and is thenbent back upon itself and its end bent to form a loop E, which ismounted in the recess D and surrounds the screw or pin b. It will beseen that the shoul- 6o der or stop limits the inward movement of thekey, and the loop engaging with the screw or pin b prevents said keyfrom being entirely removed from the coffin.

F represents a portion of the lid of the coftin or casket. G is a smallplate secured to and countersunk in the under side of said lid. g is astud or button projecting from said plate and having a flanged head g,provided with inclined surfaces on its under side,

To secure the lid in position upon the cof- 8o fin, the locking-keys arefirst withdrawn from the slots, the heads of the studs or buttons placedin the enlarged apertures O. The lid is then pushed toward the foot ofthe coffin,

causing the heads of the studs to travel down the inclined bottoms O andenter the slots 0. The inclined surfaces of the under sides of theflanged heads of said studs engage with the inclined surfaces of theflanges 0, thus drawing thelid tightly down upon the coffin and.9o

overcoming any warp or bend which it may have. When said lid has reachedits proper position, the locking key or pin is pushed in and passesacross the slot back of the stud or button, thus holding the same withinthe slot and securely locking the lid upon said coffin or casket.

It is apparent that my invention may be used with advantage as afastening for various kinds of cases, packing-boxes, &c., as well as I00for coffins.

Having thus fully described my invention,

I however preferably em- 7 5 what I claim as new, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is-

In a fastening device for coffins, a plat-e B, secured in the upper edgeof the side of a cotfin, a longitudinal slot 0 in said plate,terminating in an enlarged aperture C and having flanges c on each sideof said slot, a transverse recess Din one end of said plate, a screw orpin 1), passing through said recess D, a looking key or pin E, mountedin a hole e in said plate, said key or pin extending outside of thecoffin and being bent to form a handle portion E and a loop E mounted inthe recess and having a flanged head g, adapted to engage with theflanges c and to be held in position by the key or pin E, substantiallyas shown and described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOSEPH E. EVERISS. Witnesses:

A. E. BARAGAR, R. R. ROBBINS.

